hie Creator. 3. Their operati<mi; which nro as diven1ified as nre their natures and plnces. The sea moves, the land rests, the phmt g-rows. 'l'he sen fertilises and beautifies the soil, the soil sustains and nourishes tho plant, the plnnt decorates the land and gi'<"es food to man and beast. The sea fills the clouds the clouds fill the ri,•ers nnd th~ stronn:is, the rivers and the streams slake the thirst of the valleys, the vnlle~'S yield their substance to the corn and the wine and the oil nnd these again deliver up their treasures to their master-man. The sea divid~s the land int~ con_t~nent.s, which, in turn, are broken up int~ c~untries by rivers; and thus nnt1onaht1~~ are formed, and peace promoted by d1vis1on. As the great highway of the nat10ns, too, the 11ea holps to diffuse abroad the blessings of civilisation and to teach men their interdependence. So, likewise, the land has its specific fundtions in the economy of na~nre, being assigned to support, sustain, enrich, instruct, and comfort wan. And different from both are tl1e uses of the plants. All which is fitted to suggest wisdom. (1) That each separate creature has its own separate work to do, for which it has been fitted with appropriate powers-a lesson of diligence. (2) That there are many different ,rnys of serving God in this world-a lesson of charity. (3) That God does not wish all his creatures either to be or to serve alike- a lesson of contentment. ( 4) That the best way to serve God is to be ourselves and use the powers we possess, without condescending to imitate our neighbours- a lesson of indi,·iclua!ity. (5) That though each separate creature has its own nature, pince, and power, yet each is subservient to the other, and all to the whole-- a lC'sson of co-operntion. II. Coru:rARED, in respect of - 1. Their natures, ns being God's creatures. Land, sea, and vegetation all owe their existence to his Almighty fiat, and all equally proclaim themselves to be his handiwork. Hence they are all God's property-the earth with its fulness, the sea with its treasures, the plants with their Yirtues. Consequently man should (1) reverently worship him who made the sea 'lnd formed the dry land, and caused the gra.ss to grow; (2) thankfully receive those highly sernceable creatures at God's hand; and, (3) remembering whose they are, and that himself is but a steward, faithfully employ them for their Creator's glory. 2. Their charaders, as being obedient to the Divine word. "Gathered be the seas," said- the word, and the seas were gathered. "Let the dry land appear," and it appeared. "Let the grass grow," and the grass grew. Let the land, sea, and plants be our teachers. Obedience the first duty of a creature. Nothing can com- pensate for its want (1 Sam. xv. 22). And this obedience must be prompt, complete, and continual, like that of sea, land, and vegetation. 3. Their varieties. The seas were di\'ided into oceans, lakes, rivers; the land iuto mountains, hills, and valleys; the plants into grasses, herbs, and trees. God loves diversity in unity. As in a great house there are 'l"'essels of small quantity and vessels of large quantity (Isa. mi. 24), so in the world are the creatures divided into more important and Jess. In society men are distributed into ranks an~ classes according to their great- ness and ability; in the Church there are "babes" and there are "perfect.men" in Christ; there are those possessed of many talents and much grace, and those whose endowments and acquirements are of smaller dimensions. 4. Their qualifie,i, as being all good in their Creator's estimation. The highest excellence of a creature is to be appro'l"'ed by its Maker, not simply commended by its fellow-creature ; to be good in the judgment of God, and not merely in thi, sight of men.
EXPOSITION. Vers. U, 15.-Day fou.r. "'ith_ this day initial point of departure, and, in a second nco-ins the second half of the creab ,·e week, series of operations, carries each of thcso wl~ose works ha ,·e a striking correspondence forward to completion-the light by per- with the laLours of the first. Ila,·ing per• manently settling it iu the sun, the air and fected the main structural arraDgcments of water by filling them with fowl nnd fish, nnd the globe Ly the, elimination from primc,·al the lond by mnking aDimals and mnn. 'l.'ho chaos of the fo u fnndam,mtal elcmeDts of first of these engaged tho Divino Artificel''s light, air, wakr, and land, the formative attention on the fourth ~rMtivo dnv. And i;Dcrgy of the Di,·inc WQ,d reverts to its Gl>d eaid, Let tllere bo lights (fitel'nllJ Clt. J. 14--Hl.] '1'111': BOOR OJ<' GE~Esrn. 21